Kwon Young-se "North Korea's Efforts to Block the South... Evidence of Internal System Issues"

Visit to Jogye Order Chief Administrator... "All Inter-Korean Dialogues Blocked"
North Korea's Military Parade on the 8th Approaching... Ministry of Unification "Closely Monitoring"

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] On the 3rd, Kwon Young-se, Minister of Unification, diagnosed that "North Korea's strict blockade of inter-Korean exchanges is partly to tame the new government's North Korea policy, but it can also be evidence that there is some problem within their internal system."

Minister Kwon made this remark during a visit to Jinwoo Sunim, the Chief Executive of the Jogye Order of Korean Buddhism, at the Korean Buddhist History and Culture Memorial Hall in Jongno-gu, Seoul, in the morning, stating, "Dialogue is blocked not only between North Korea and the government but also in all sectors including society, culture, sports, and religion."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

He explained, "The government has no intention of monopolizing inter-Korean exchange and cooperation," adding that while it will respond firmly to provocations related to security, it believes that revitalizing humanitarian exchange and cooperation also helps in resolving the nuclear issue. He emphasized, "We do not intend to shake the North Korean regime but aim to actively cooperate in areas with less political color such as cultural heritage, religion, and environmental issues to restore kinship as compatriots."

Meanwhile, North Korea held the 24th plenary meeting of the Standing Committee of the Supreme People's Assembly, which corresponds to our National Assembly, the day before, adopting laws including the State Secrets Protection Act and the Railway Management Act.

Lee Hyo-jung, Deputy Spokesperson of the Ministry of Unification, evaluated the background of North Korea's adoption of the laws at a regular briefing that day, saying, "It appears to be supporting the implementation of the plenary meeting's decisions legally and institutionally, and reorganizing and strengthening the overall social management system."

Regarding the expected military parade on the 8th, the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Korean People's Army (Army Foundation Day), Deputy Spokesperson Lee said, "We are closely monitoring the possibility of holding a military parade on major political occasions such as Army Foundation Day," and "the government is closely tracking and monitoring the trends of North Korea's key facilities and regions in close cooperation with the United States."